Electric switch movement



Feb. 9, 1932. G. H ELWELL ELECTRIC swmcn MOVEMENT Filed Jan. 18, 1928 INSULATION Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 4 GEORGE HENRY ELWELL, 01 NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOIR, TO THE GREIST MANUFAGTURING COMPANY, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF connncrrcor nnncrnic swrrcn MOVEMENT Application filed January 18, 1928. Serial No. 247,629.

The invention relates to improvements in electric switch movements, and more espeorally to switch movements employed inconl nectionwith electriclamp sockets having a key operated spindle, and the objects of the invention are to provide a two-part key spindle of which one part is stationary and may be integral with a binding-post; and to provide,-in connection with such a two-part spindle, a switch movement of sudden transition from either a make or break to the other position.

With these and otherobjects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the inven tion consists in certain features of novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and particularly pointedout l wherein patentable novelty is claimed for certain features of the device, it being understood that within the scope of what hereinafter thus is claimed various changes in form, proportion, size, and minor details of the construction, can be made without departing from the spirit or modifying any of the advantages of the invention.

The following is the description of an embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings (one sheet) in which Figure 1 is an upright elevation of the device; Figure 2 is a cross-sectionalview of the device on the line 22 of Figure 1; and Figures 3 and 4 are upright elevations of certain detail. 4

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which similar parts are similarly numbered, the device, whilepeculiarly adaptable for use in connection with electric lamp sockets, is illustrated in the drawings as a device embodying a suddenly operable make and break mechanism for any electrical circuit, the binding-screws 14: and lorepresenting opposite poles from which the electrical circuit may be traced to the point of making and breaking. The device is mountableupon a supporting base of insulation 16 and comprises a two-part spindle having the stationary part 1 integral with a binding-post, and the part2 relatively rotatable but insulated from the part 1 by means of the disk of insulation 3 having the integral shaft 4 insertable within the bore 5 of the inner extremity of the part 2. Mounted upon the stationary part 1 are the fixed and closely associated disks ,3 and 6, as illustrated by Figure 1, the latter being of conductive material. The periphery of both disks is ratchet formed, as best illustrated by Figures 3 and 4, in such away that together they peripherally present the cam sections 7 and 8 of alternate conductive and non conductive material, respectively, each of these sections being separated by an abrupt shoulder 9, as illustrated by Figure 2. Slidably mounted upon the part 2 of the key spindle and keyed to rotate therewith with a limited tipping freedom is a third disk 10 having an integral and rigid arm 11 adapted to ride the free extremity of the arm upon the ratchet, formed periphery of the disks 3 and 6. The coiled compression spring 12 isalso mounted upon part 2 of the key spindle to engage one of its ends against the disk of insulation 3 and exerting its tension through the engagement of its opposite end with the disk 10 for the purpose of maintaining thedisk in such 'anerect position as will insure the continued engagement of the arm 11 withthe ratchetformation, as illustrated by Figure 1, and to precipitate the arm 11 froinoif of the cam surfaces at the abrupt shoulders 9 and down upon the face of the next forwardly adjoining cam as the part 2 of the key spindle is turned. To facilitate an easy and effective mounting of each of the disks 3, 6, and 10, upon the spindle parts, the parts 1 and 2 are so formed that the crosssection is square, as best illustrated by Figure 2 with relation to the part 1, and each of the disks is provided with a square center perforation, as particularly illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 with relation to disks 3' and 6.

To operate the device the key is turned in a clock-wise direction'carrying part 2 of the spindle, and hence the disk 10 withthe extremity of its rigid arm 11 bearing down upon. the periphery of the closely associated disks 3 and 6 by reason of the tension of the spring 12tending to maintain an erect disk 4 section 7 thereby and the spindle part forced radially outwardly with respect to the disks 3 and 6 While traveling over and being operated by the particular cam section. For instance, while being operated by one of the non-conductive cam sections 8 the arm 11 is thereby forced outwardly against the tension of the spring 12 by reason of the consequential tipping of the disk 10 slightly compressing the spring '12. Upon reaching the abrupt shoulder 9 of that particular cam section the arm 11 by reason of the tension of the spring 12 is suddenly precipitated over the shoulder and down upon the face of the next forwardly adjoining conductive cam ther turn of the key in the same direction causes the arm 11 to travel the conductive cam section 7 to be suddenly precipitated over the abrupt shoulder 9 and upon the face of the next forwardly adjoining non-conductive cam section 8 thereby opening the circuit. With a closed circuit the conductive line of electrical connection may be traced from the binding-screw 14 through the binding-post 1, the conductive disk 6 and, through the medium of one of the cam sections 7, to the arm 11, disk 10, and the spindle part 2 which is spring-pressed within a conducting bearing, as at 13, provided by the binding-post with which the bindingscrew 15 is associated. In connection With an electric lamp socket the device might retain the binding-post with which the binding-screw 14 is associated, but the other binding-post would naturally be substituted by some connection between the conductive bearing supporting the part 2 of the spindle and the usual screw-shell or center contact.

lVhat I claim is p 1. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base of insulation within the electrical circuit, one part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; ratchet disks fix edly mounted upon the stationary part and together peripherally presenting alternate conductive and non-conductive cam surfaces; and a disk rotatably carried by the movable part and having a spring-controlled rigid rm with an extremity adapted to ride upon the cam surfaces to close or open the circuit.

2. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base of insulation and within the electrical circuit, one

part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; ratchet disks of conductive and'non-conductive material, respectively, fixedly mounted upon the stationary part and together peripherally presenting alternate conductive and non-c0nduc- :tive cam surfaces; a disk rotatably carried by the movable part and having a rigidarm with an extremity adapted to rideupon the post integral with closing the circuit. A furcam surfaces; and a coiled spring mounted upon the spindle and exerting a spring tension between the stationary disk of insulation and the disk carried by the rotatable part to maintain the rigid arm in constant engagement with the cam surfaces.

3. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base of insulation and within the electrical circuit, one part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; a bindingthe stationary part;

ratchet disks fixedly mounted upon the stationary part and together peripherally presenting alternate conductive and non-conductivecam surfaces; anda disk rotatably carried by the movable part and having a rigid spring-controlled arm with an extremity adapted to ride upon the cam surfaces to close or open the circuit.

1. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base of insulation and within the electrical circuit, one part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; a bindingpost integral with the stationary part; ratchet disks of conductive and non-conductive material, respectively, fixedly mounted upon the stationary part and together peripherally presenting alternate conductive and non-conductive cam surfaces; a member rotatably carried by the movable part and having a rigid arm'with an extremity adapted to ride upon thecam surfaces; and a coiled spring mounted upon the spindle and exerting a spring tension between the stationary disk of insulation and the member carried by the rotatable part to maintain the rigid arm in constant engagement with the cam surfaces.

5. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base of insula- Mon and w1th1n the electrical circuit, one

part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; :a bindingpost integral with the stationary part;

ratchet disks of conductive and non-conductremity adapted to ride upon the camsurfaces; and a coiled spring mounted upon the spindle and exerting a spring tension between the stationary disk of insulation and the member carried by the rotatable part .to maintain the rigid arm in constant engagement With the cam surfacesand for-asudden precipitation from the shoulder of one cam 7'.

surface to the face of the adjoining cam as the rotatable part of the spindle is turned in the proper direction to alternately close and open the circuit.

6. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adaptedto be mounted upon a supporting base, one part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; ratchet disks fixedly mounted upon one of the parts and together peripherally presenting alternate conductive and non-conductivecam surfaces;

and a rigid conductive arm spring-controlled and mounted upon the other part and having an extremity adapted to constantly bear upon the cam-surfaces to close or open the circuit as the rotatable part is manually rotated.

7 An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base, one part being stationary and insulated from the other part relatively rotatable; alternate conductive and non-conductive cam surfaces provided by one of the parts and the other part having a rigid spring-controlled conductive member adapted to constantly bear upon the cam surfaces to close or open the circuit as the rotatable part is manually rotated.

8. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base in non-conductive relation, one part being stationary and the other part relatively rotatable; ratchet disks mounted upon the spindle and alternately presenting peripheral cam surfaces; and a rigid spring-controlledconductive member carried by one of the parts and adapted to constantly bear upon the cam surfaces, the arm and alternate cam surfaces being insulatingly non-conductive in their inter-engagement 9. An electric switch movement comprising a two-part key spindle adapted to be mounted upon a supporting base in non-conductive relation, one part being stationary and the other part relatively rotatable; peripheral cam surfaces provided by one of the parts; and a rigid spring-controlled conductive member carried by the other part and adapted to constantly bear upon the cam surfaces, the arm and alternate cam surfaces being insulatingly non-conductive upon their inter-enga ement.

GEOR E HENRY ELWELL. 

